Blizzard in South Dakota
Every blizzard event the National Weather Service has filed in South Dakota, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
The most significant on the map
The most significant blizzard episodes in South Dakota.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 2,499
- Deaths
- 24
- Injuries
- 52
- Damage
- $113 million
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in South Dakota, December 12 to 16, 2022A powerful winter storm moved slowly across the central and northern Plains to the upper Midwest; bringing heavy snow, some mixed precipitation, strong winds, and periods of blizzard or near blizzard conditions across the plains for a multi-day period.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, October 3 to 5, 2013A historic blizzard pounded western South Dakota with record-setting snowfall and strong winds for almost 48 hours from the evening of October 3 through the afternoon of October 5.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, January 9 to 10, 1997A powerful Alberta Clipper and a deep Arctic High brought widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions, heavy drifting snow, and dangerous wind chills of 40 to 80 below to central and northeast South Dakota. North winds were from 30 to 50 mph gusting to 60 mph.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, March 24 to 25, 1996Snow accumulating 3 to 8 inches was accompanied by winds over 50 mph at times, producing widespread whiteout conditions. Numerous vehicles slid into ditches and many people were stranded in vehicles.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, November 5 to 7, 2008An intense fall storm produced blizzard conditions across the South Dakota plains for over 24 hours. Precipitation started as rain during the day and changed to heavy, wet snow during the evening of the 5th.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, November 28 to 29, 2005Snowfall varying from 4 to 15 inches combined with winds gusting over 50 mph to produce blizzard conditions. The heaviest snowfalls were mostly near and west of the James River, in the area where a severe ice storm immediately preceded the blizzard.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in South Dakota, December 25 to 26, 2016An intense storm system moved across the Northern Plains, producing snow and strong winds across much of western South Dakota. Areas of freezing rain, freezing drizzle, sleet, and snow developed over the area in the morning, before changing to snow.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, January 17 to 18, 1996A blizzard spread across the area from the west. Snow accumulating 3 to 12 inches was accompanied by 50 to 60 mph winds and very cold temperatures. The blizzard was accompanied by wind chill readings around 70 below zero.
- Blizzard and High Wind in South Dakota, January 14 to 15, 2021A strong northwesterly jet streak digging through the central Rockies produced intense and deep cyclogenesis across Iowa on January 14 and 15.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, March 23 to 24, 2009A powerful spring storm brought rain, snow, and very strong winds to western South Dakota. Precipitation started as rain, then changed to snow, and blizzard conditions developed. The heaviest snow fell over the northern Black Hills, where 18 to 48 inches of snow was measured.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, April 5 to 6, 1997Snowfall of 1 to 2 feet was common over the northern Black Hills and northwest plains of South Dakota with 6 to 12 inches reported elsewhere. Maximum snowfall was 34 inches at Lead.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, December 16 to 18, 1996A powerful Alberta Clipper and a slow moving deep Arctic high pressure brought widespread prolonged blizzard conditions to central, northcentral and northeast South Dakota.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, January 25 to 27, 2014A strong Alberta Clipper system generated light snow and strong winds across the region resulting in blizzard conditions.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, February 10 to 11, 2013A very strong low pressure area moving across the region brought widespread heavy snow of 6 to as much as 19 inches. Along with the heavy snow came very strong winds of 30 to 50 mph causing widespread blowing and drifting snow.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in South Dakota, March 13 to 14, 2019A very strong winter storm moved across the region, bringing heavy snow and blizzard conditions to much of western and south central South Dakota. Snow developed during the morning hours, with rain and snow changing to snow southeast of the Black Hills by the early afternoon.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, February 12, 2020A powerful Arctic cold front moved quickly across the region during the morning hours bringing 1 to 2 inches of snowfall, very strong north winds of 30 to 45 mph gusting up to 50 to 60 mph, along with falling wind chills.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, December 23, 2020An intense surface low pressure area along with a powerful cold front brought snow and high winds to northeast South Dakota on December 23rd. The surface low pressure area and cold front tracked from west to east across the region from the early morning into the afternoon hours.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, February 7, 2019An upper level low pressure trough brought 2 to 5 inches of snowfall to northeast South Dakota followed by arctic air and very strong north winds.
- Blizzard and Ice Storm in South Dakota, April 10 to 12, 2019A historic late-season, multi-day winter storm developed rapidly across the central Plains on Wednesday, April 10. This system spiraled several periods of wintry precipitation through the region.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, January 9 to 11, 1997Strong winds, gusting as high as 60 mph, combined with loose heavy snow cover and 1 to 3 inches of new snow to produce widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Wind chills as cold as 80 below zero also occurred.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, March 30 to 31, 2009The second blizzard in a week brought heavy snow and strong winds to the western South Dakota plains. Northwest wind gusts to 50 mph produced significant blowing and drifting snow, reducing visibilities to near zero for many hours.
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in South Dakota, February 21 to 23, 2023A long-duration winter storm developed across southeast South Dakota on February 21, with waves of heavier snowfall across the region as winds increased to a gusty 30 to 50 mph.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, January 4 to 5, 1997Winds gusting to 45 mph combined with 2 to 4 inches of new snow and existing loose snow cover to cause widespread blizzard conditions in blowing snow. Visibility was frequently reduced to near zero, roads were blocked, and businesses were closed.
- Blizzard in South Dakota, April 18 to 19, 2000
- Blizzard in South Dakota, December 23, 2020Conditions with temperatures at record or near-record warm levels on December 22 underwent a drastic change over a brief 24 hour period, as a sharp upper-level trough in westerly flow amplified while translating from the Pacific Northwest to the Plains.
More
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.